Do Your Part to Flatten the Curve

By Congressman Markwayne Mullin

The number of COVID-19 cases in our country is growing by the day and without taking any steps to address it, the number of people who become infected will exponentially grow. It’s going to take all of us working together to slow the spread or “flatten the curve” of the number of people getting the virus.

The decisions we make each day impact our communities. Even if you are a young or healthy person, you can spread the disease and increase risk for others, including older people and those with underlying health conditions who are the most at risk. I strongly encourage you to take this seriously and heed recommendations from federal, state, and local public health officials.

President Trump and his Coronavirus Task Force announced an initiative to help slow the spread of the virus. Here are the recommendations:

• If you feel sick, stay home and contact your medical provider.
• If someone in your household has tested positive, keep the entire household at home and contact your medical provider.
• If you are an older person or a person with an underlying health condition, stay home and away from other people.
• Work or do schooling from home whenever possible.
• Avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people.
• Do not visit nursing homes, retirement or long-term care facilities unless you are providing critical assistance.
• Avoid discretionary travel like shopping trips and social visits.
• Use drive-thru, pickup or delivery options at restaurants instead of dining in restaurants and food courts.
• Practice good hygiene by washing your hands, avoiding touching your face, sneeze or cough into a tissue or the inside of your elbow, and disinfect frequently used items and surfaces as much as possible.

While these may feel like extreme measures, it’s critical that we all make these sacrifices for the greater good of our communities. Over these next few weeks, I encourage you to do your part to flatten the curve.